John Coleman revealed his final words to his Stanley players as he said an emotional goodbye on Monday before his Rochdale switch.

"I told them that it wasn’t me challenging for promotion. It wasn’t me making the last-ditch tackles or scoring the goals – it’s them and they owe it to themselves, the club and the fans to carry on the momentum that’s been built up and to carry on challenging for promotion.

"Without me, they can still win games and they know they can. Whoever takes over has got the makings of a great team, who know how to win games, who know how to pick up points.

"It will perhaps need a bit of fine tuning and a new man to put his personal touch on it but the recipe for success is there and there is no reason why it won’t continue."